Podcasts about Insys Therapeutics

Welcome to "The Wolf Den," in this episode we venture into the heart of the American opioid epidemic, exposing the dark underbelly of pharmaceutical sales and the devastating impact it has had on countless lives. In this special feature, we invite you to join us for an exclusive and emotionally charged interview with Alec Burlakoff, a former top executive at Insys Therapeutics. As we unravel the shocking details, brace yourself for Burlakoff's candid revelations, which lay bare the unethical practices that fueled the crisis. Insys Therapeutics, the Arizona-based manufacturer of the powerful opioid painkiller Subsys, faced bankruptcy after a groundbreaking criminal case brought to light a reckless conspiracy to illegally boost profits from the drug. Burlakoff, along with other executives, faced prison sentences, marking a significant turning point in holding pharmaceutical leaders accountable for their role in the epidemic. Join us as we delve into Burlakoff's tumultuous journey at Insys Therapeutics. Driven by personal struggles with illness and depression, Burlakoff initially sought to make a positive impact in the pharmaceutical industry. However, he found himself entangled in a ruthless world where success often came at the expense of moral integrity. In this emotionally charged interview, Burlakoff unveils the aggressive tactics employed to justify the sales of opioids, even amid legal controversies surrounding their marketing. His insider account paints a chilling picture of the unscrupulous practices that permeated the pharmaceutical industry during his tenure at Insys. Throughout the conversation, Burlakoff doesn't shy away from confronting his own culpability, acknowledging the insidious nature of greed and its impact on ethical decision-making. His raw and heartfelt introspection offers listeners a rare glimpse into the moral dilemmas faced by those within the pharmaceutical world. "The Wolf Den" doesn't just shed light on the devastation caused by the opioid crisis; it also raises crucial questions about the accountability of pharmaceutical executives and the role of regulatory bodies like the FDA. Burlakoff's emotionally charged testimony serves as a powerful reminder of the urgency for transparency, ethical conduct, and compassionate healthcare practices. Join us for a riveting exploration of the opioid epidemic and the individuals who played a part in perpetuating it. "The Wolf Den" presents this thought-provoking interview, encouraging us all to confront the harsh realities and seek meaningful solutions to combat the opioid crisis affecting communities nationwide. Get ready for an impactful journey that will leave a lasting impression on your understanding of this critical issue. Show Links  Narcotics Anonymous  https://www.na.org/

Alec Burlakoff was the VP of sales at Insys Therapeutics. The first pain management company to ever face criminal charges for it's illegal sales of their fentanyl product, Subsys. Alec Burlakoff served 26 months in federal prison for his role in the company. We talked about how he got into pharmaceutical sales, his life during his time at Insys and his hopeful road to redemption. For a free copy of Alec's book - email him at training@aburlakoff.com Alec's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Selling-Lessons-Learned-Alec-Burlakoff/dp/B0BCSGPYS2/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1OMTF8VNYEL4T&keywords=Alec+Burlakoff&qid=1663173596&sprefix=%2Caps%2C342&sr=8-2 0:00 Intro0:40 Who is Alec Burlakoff 4:00 How Alec got into sales 8:40 Doctors Alec targeted 14:40 Pain management companies doing jail time 21:15 Why Alec is a good salesmen 28:15 Have Alec's daughters seen what he's done 32:40 Being #1 and the rat race 44:15 Alec's lifestyle during his time selling opiods. Coke. Strip Clubs 48:00 Netflix movie based on Alec's life 56:15 How to stop being Pharma

We are back with season 9 and we decided to ease our way in with a fun light hearted... jk this one is depressing. Despite some sidetracks into discussing doctor jail, we talk about John Kapoor and his pharmaceutical company Insys Therapeutics, who created one of the first oral sprays of a new drug to help fight against pain in late stage cancer patients. However, when sales weren't hitting targets John Kapoor and Insys proceeded with quite a few shady dealings to increase the use of their new drug, Fentanyl, kicking off the now rampant opioid epidemic.

Hey Q Crew! This week we conclude our deep dive into the company called “Worse Than Theranos” by New York Magazine. Insys Therapeutics. Our main sources are the fabulous book by Evan Hughes called “The Hard Sell: Crime and Punishment at an Opioid Startup” and The New York Magazine article linked below. In this final episode we cover the “whales” that double, triple, and quadruple dipped in this whole scheme, the downfall of the company, and the arrogance of its leadership. Links referenced in this episode: New York Magazine: https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2022/01/worse-than-theranos.html Theranos Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx_q6cCrV0AEdl3IQuybQafKU2WIwwNql Enron Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx_q6cCrV0AEhGk-GqyMytEcwNpFHQ6_k Money & Murder w/ Lara Mack-Downfall: The Case Against Boeing: https://youtu.be/_bt2vs3tmfI Keep sending you stories, deep dive topics, and questions to qasincucumber@yahoo.com. Don't forget to like and subscribe and all that jazz on iTunes or your favorite podcasting platform! Enjoy! Love your faces, Lara Social Media Links: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LaraMackPodcasts Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/QasinCucumber Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qaic_lara/?hl=en       https://www.instagram.com/qaic_tanya/?hl=en Twitter: https://twitter.com/qaic_lara  https://twitter.com/qaic_tanya Podbean: https://qasincucumber.podbean.com/ #insys #fentanyl #subsys #thehardsell #evanhughes #audible #theranos #elizabethholmes #sunnybalwani #thedropout #commentary #podcast #comedypodcast #entertainment #scandal     Theranos Part 1 https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-q8s49-b987da Theranos Part 2 https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-2nics-ba77f3 Theranos Part 3 https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-dzpt4-bbd87f Updates https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-vg6gd-ff1067 https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-247ei-104edbc https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-ghjpb-1088877 https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-s4bse-106c1ed https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-9uaqi-10d1b20 https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/rx9bte/Cornfuzzled.mp3 https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-tiq9t-10f51c8 https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-bfdnb-10feaec https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-s4bse-106c1ed https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-cqnnd-1107f3a https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-dptav-1112012 https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-p9ze6-1132ebc https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-gkj58-114c701 https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-bsiyx-1157f4b

Hey Q Crew! This week we continue with our deep dive into the company called “Worse Than Theranos” by New York Magazine. Insys Therapeutics. Our main sources are the fabulous book by Evan Hughes called “The Hard Sell: Crime and Punishment at an Opioid Startup” and The New York Magazine article linked below. In this second episode we cover how the 4 Horseman finally come together and begin their criminal journey. They launched Subsys into the market and created addicts by bribing doctors and scamming insurance companies. Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss the conclusion! Links referenced in this episode: New York Magazine: https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2022/01/worse-than-theranos.html Theranos Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx_q6cCrV0AEdl3IQuybQafKU2WIwwNql Money & Murder w/ Lara Mack-Downfall: The Case Against Boeing: https://youtu.be/_bt2vs3tmfI Keep sending you stories, deep dive topics, and questions to qasincucumber@yahoo.com. Don't forget to like and subscribe and all that jazz on iTunes or your favorite podcasting platform! Enjoy! Love your faces, Lara Social Media Links: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LaraMackPodcasts Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/QasinCucumber Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qaic_lara/?hl=en       https://www.instagram.com/qaic_tanya/?hl=en Twitter: https://twitter.com/qaic_lara  https://twitter.com/qaic_tanya Podbean: https://qasincucumber.podbean.com/ #insys #fentanyl #subsys #thehardsell #evanhughes #audible #theranos #elizabethholmes #sunnybalwani #thedropout #commentary #podcast #comedypodcast #entertainment #scandal

Hey Q Crew! This week we start our deep dive into the company called “Worse Than Theranos” by New York Magazine. Insys Therapeutics. Our main sources are the fabulous book by Evan Hughes called “The Hard Sell: Crime and Punishment at an Opioid Startup” and The New York Magazine article linked below. In this first episode we cover a little history of the drug at the center of all this- Subsys. Which is an under the tongue fentanyl spray designed for “break through cancer pain”. However, it was mostly used by pain management doctors who were bribed by Insys to push it to their patients and turn them into addicts. We close out by getting to know the main players: John Kapoor, Michael Babich, Matthew Napoletano, and Alec Burlakoff. The 4 Horseman of the Apocalypse. Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss parts 2 and 3! Links referenced in this episode: New York Magazine: https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2022/01/worse-than-theranos.html Theranos Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx_q6cCrV0AEdl3IQuybQafKU2WIwwNql Money & Murder w/ Lara Mack-Downfall: The Case Against Boeing: https://youtu.be/_bt2vs3tmfI Keep sending you stories, deep dive topics, and questions to qasincucumber@yahoo.com. Don't forget to like and subscribe and all that jazz on iTunes or your favorite podcasting platform! Enjoy! Love your faces, Lara Social Media Links: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LaraMackPodcasts Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/QasinCucumber Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qaic_lara/?hl=en       https://www.instagram.com/qaic_tanya/?hl=en Twitter: https://twitter.com/qaic_lara  https://twitter.com/qaic_tanya Podbean: https://qasincucumber.podbean.com/ #insys #fentanyl #subsys #thehardsell #evanhughes #audible #theranos #elizabethholmes #sunnybalwani #thedropout #commentary #podcast #comedypodcast #entertainment #scandal

Marc Cohodes has earned a living and a reputation betting against companies he suspects committing fraud. His high-profile take-downs include Insys Therapeutics founder John Kapoor—the orchestrator of a scheme to bribe doctors to prescribe a fentanyl-based pain medication that caused the deaths of 7,000 people.  During our earthy and entertaining chat, Cohodes' describes how his shorting career began when he bet against a pinball machine manufacturer at the dawn of the video game age. He explains the rationale behind some of his long positions and maintains that it's not what you've done but what you do next that counts.

Insys Therapeutics was an opioid startup that made lots of money for its addictive nasal spray. Today, we hear from Evan Hughes, author of the book Hard Sell: Crime and Punishment at an Opioid Startup, on how the company's carelessness led to its ultimate downfall.

This week The Pack is joined by is author Evan Hughes. (@evanhughes on TWITTER) We dig into Evans's latest creation, talk about some really evil people and some people who got screwed the least of which are the people who Insys Therapeutics killed.  It's drugs, death, and strippers.    Evan has written for The New York Times Magazine, GQ, New York, The New Republic, Wired, the London Review of Books, and The New York Review of Books. He has also been published in the New York Times Book Review, n+1, Slate, The Awl, and Salon, among other publications. He is the author of Literary Brooklyn, a work of literary biography and urban history..   He is the author of several books, one of his books, turned major motion picture starring Matthew McConaughey, The Trials of White Boy Rick.    And his latest, soon to be released, The Hard Sell.   The Hard Sell. tells the inside story of a band of entrepreneurial upstarts who made millions selling painkillers--until their scheme unraveled, putting them at the center of a landmark criminal trial. I've read it, Carl read it and you should read it.   Sit back have a drink and enjoy.    Links https://www.evanhughes.co/ The Hard Sell

RMA-Episode 40 Show Notes:   If you thought Perdu Pharma was the real villain behind the opioid epidemic, let me introduce you to Insys Therapeutics. A pharmaceutical company run by the disgraced and imprisoned CEO John Kapoor, Insys broke new ground when it came to using sleazy sales tactics to get greedy doctors to write bogus prescriptions for their fentanyl lollipops and sublingual spray.  When the DEA started to crack down on companies like Insys and the pill mills that popped up overnight in the southern United States, the pharmaceutical companies lobbied Congress and had the law changed, paving the way for years of legal drug-dealing by some of the richest men in America. This week on Recovery in the Middle Ages, Mike and Nat continue their review of the new HBO documentary The Crime of the Century, a searing indictment of Big Pharma and the political operatives and government regulations that enable over-production, reckless distribution, and mass abuse of synthetic opiates.   Of course, we also have the weekly wrap-up, Recovery in the News and the Week in Weird on a painless, easily influenced by suitcases full of cash and unexplainable by ordinary physics episode of Recovery in the Middle Ages   The Crime of the Century   Patrick Radden Keefe   Empire of Pain: The secret History of the Sackler Dynasty   Free Beer for Covid Vaccine Target Being Met   The Truth is Out There   LISTEN TO RMA ON YOUTUBE PLEASE leave us a 5 star review on I-Tunes if you're enjoying the show and SUBSCRIBE to get the latest episodes.  You can reach us by email at: MikeR@middleagesrecovery.com Natx@middleagesrecovery.com   Send comments, complaints, death threats, ideas and requests to be interviewed. We'll talk to anyone! Check out the website: Www.middleagesrecovery.com   Visit MiddleAgesRecovery.com and tell us your story of your struggles with alcohol and drugs. Fill out the “tell us your story” Form on the website, write your recovery or using story and we will read it on the air! (Anonymity guaranteed).   FOLLOW US ON TWITTER  Join the Facebook Page! Exciting things are happening there!   We also have a Facebook Group! Request to join the group. It's a private space for continuing the discussion of what Nat and Mike talk about on the podcast. Hope to see you there. If you're in trouble with substance abuse and need help, reach out. There are thousands of people who have put problems with addiction in their rear-view mirrors and you can be one of them. While we neither endorse nor condemn any particular program, the sheer number of available AA and NA meetings suggest that reaching out to those organizations would be a good first step on the road to recovery.     https://www.aa.org/ https://www.na.org/meetingsearch/   Marijuana Anonymous (just in case):   This Naked Mind

How a drug company made millions pushing an opioid painkiller up to 100x stronger than heroin, as many on Wall Street looked the other way. FRONTLINE filmmaker Tom Jennings and Financial Times reporter Hannah Kuchler discuss their new investigation of Insys Therapeutics — from a jaw-dropping interview with a former sales director who admits to bribing doctors to prescribe the highly addictive drug Subsys, to how Wall Street propelled Insys’ success even as questions emerged about its practices, to what role drug companies’ pursuit of profits has played in the opioid crisis: “I think that it's really interesting just how people are able to disconnect their actions from the consequences, especially in business,” Kuchler says. With federal prosecutors using laws designed to catch mob bosses, Insys would ultimately become the first pharmaceutical company to have its top executives sentenced to prison time in connection with the opioid epidemic. For more on Insys’ spectacular rise and fall — and its consequences — watch the documentary Opioids, Inc. from FRONTLINE and the FT, and read our in-depth joint reporting — also available at ft.com/insys.

How a drug company made millions pushing an opioid painkiller up to 100x stronger than heroin, as many on Wall Street looked the other way. FRONTLINE filmmaker Tom Jennings and Financial Times reporter Hannah Kuchler discuss their new investigation of Insys Therapeutics — from a jaw-dropping interview with a former sales director who admits to bribing doctors to prescribe the highly addictive drug Subsys, to how Wall Street propelled Insys’ success even as questions emerged about its practices, to what role drug companies’ pursuit of profits hasplayed in the opioid crisis: “I think that it's really interesting just how people are able to disconnect their actions from the consequences, especially in business,” Kuchler says. With federal prosecutors using laws designed to catch mob bosses, Insys would ultimately become the first pharmaceutical company to have its top executives sentenced to prison time in connection with the opioid epidemic. For more on Insys’ spectacular rise and fall — and its consequences — watch the documentary Opioids, Inc. from FRONTLINE and the FT, and read our in-depth joint reporting — also available at  ft.com/insys.

HertzOn May 22, Hertz Global Holdings Inc. filed for bankruptcy. Then its stock started to go up. At its post-filing peak, it closed at $5.53 per shar... we should get in on thatmemorably told herfiled a prospectusForm 10-QMarch balance sheetthe prospectuswe last talked about Hertzgot a call from the SEC staffBy ThursdayHere’s Jay ClaytonUse of ProceedsHere’s a lawyerwith names likedividends should not make shareholders richercost moreon the other side of all the lawsuitshas beenit admittedhas resignedhas been calledrenegotiating its debtfor so longfile a criminal complaintto protect the company from speculatorsnot a great lookdeep dive on Insys Therapeutics,mostlyStringer Bell almost saysrapvideohow you do PRarrested in Vanuatustorypressdoing stuff in Kuwaittravel insuranceshe wasoperational risk managementEerie CalmFederal AidEddie the Repo ManRethink InvestmentsPolitical Fightdoing wellBaseball Card-StyleDiamond WorldCITGOLaunching a Cryptocurrency 30 working gadgetsrotting whaleColumbus, Ohiosubscribe at this linkhereled to Hertz’s bankruptcy filinga share of stock is an option on the assets of the corporationits motiondidn’t say in its filingtalkedtimesI wroteprospectus-delivery requirements

In February of 2019, we interviewed Palm Beach Post reporters Pat Beall and John Pacenti, about the trial of former executives from opioid manufacturer Insys Therapeutics. They’d been accused of racketeering, bribing doctors to prescribe their high-powered opioid fentanyl spray, Subsys, to patients who didn’t need it. A year later, the Insys executives have finally received sentences of 1 to 5 ½ years in prison. This is the first time big pharma execs have been convicted and sent to prison for racketeering. It’s arguable whether this sentence achieves justice for the 900-plus lives lost to opioid addiction that began with Subsys prescriptions. But, it does send a clear message to the rest of the pharmaceutical industry. To share their insight into the Insys sentencing, Palm Beach Post reporters, John Pacenti and Pat Beall return to the podcast. Together, we break-down what this case means for the rest of the pharmaceutical industry and the questions that remain.

Michael Babich and Sunrise Lee, two Insys Therapeutics executives, were sentenced in Boston Federal Court for participation in a scheme to push addictive opioid prescriptions. WBZ NewsRadio's Shari Small reports.

Today, two former execs for Insys Therapeutics, a player sued in the opioid litigation, were sentenced to jail for their role in a kickback and bribery scheme using doctors to sell their highly-potent fentanyl opioid, Subsys. We disect the sentences, the drug behind them, and the outlook for other executives as the opioid litigation continues.

Opioid drugmakers Insys Therapeutics and Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals face millions of dollars in settlement as a consequence of allegedly bribing doctors to prescribe their drugs.

In episode 170, we welcome our guest, Bill Martin. Bill and Meb start the conversation by diving into Bill’s early entrepreneurial experience running Ragingbull.com. He discusses the business, raising capital, and ultimately selling the business. After Ragingbull.com, he started a research business and InsiderScores before ultimately launching Raging Capital in 2006. Meb asks Bill to get into Raging Capital. Bill offers that the long side is fairly concentrated, focused on the long-term and thinking strategically about the businesses. The short side is where he and his team focus on a diverse basket of businesses they consider overvalued with fundamentally challenged business models. Bill describes the nuances involved in position sizing on the short-side, and even illustrates with an example of Insys Therapeutics. Next, Bill covers where he’s seeing opportunity in the world. He talks about a theme with MLPs, companies with exposure to Puerto Rico, and building products. Meb then chats with Bill about his thoughts on China. Bill walks through his thinking on China broadly, and that the network he’s building in China is beneficial to investments he’s making in the portfolio. As the conversation winds down, Bill walks through mechanics of short selling, and some names and themes he and his team are working on, including a number of firms in the public storage space, and some auto-related companies. All this and more in episode 170, including Bill’s most memorable investment.

Brad Bailey, a criminal defense lawyer and former federal prosecutor, discusses the Insys Therapeutics case and the expanded use of RICO in white collar criminal cases.

Daniel Levinson, former head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), will make his first broadcast appearance on Monitor Mondays since his announced retirement earlier this year.During his 15-year stint as the nation’s top healthcare watchdog, Levinson oversaw investigations into controversial health issues, including what was described as the largest healthcare fraud takedown in history in July 2017, when more than 400 defendants in 41 judicial districts were charged with participating in schemes involving about $1.3 billion in false billings to Medicare and Medicaid. Other segments to appear on the broadcast include:RAC Report: Healthcare attorney Knicole Emanuel returns to the broadcast to report on the latest audits by Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs) and other third-party auditors. Emanuel, a member of the RACmonitor editorial board, is a partner in the Potomac Law Group.Court Report: Reporting on the major Insys Therapeutics settlement announced Thursday is famed whistleblower Mary Inman, a partner in the London office of Constantine Cannon.Monday Focus: The U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee will hold a hearing next Wednesday on "Medicare for All," the proposal that would shift the U.S. to a single-payer healthcare system. Continuing his reporting on this hot-button topic will be Dennis Jones, administrator of patient financial services at Montefiore Nyack Hospital in Nyack, N.Y.SDoH Report: Ellen Fink-Samnick, a nationally recognized expert on social determinants of health (SdoH), has the latest news on this trending topic that is attracting significant media attention.Risky Business: Healthcare attorney David Glaser returns to Monitor Mondays with his popular segment, in which he reports on problematic issues facing providers.Monday Rounds: Ronald Hirsch, MD, vice president of R1 RCM, makes his Monday Rounds with another installment of his popular segment.

Guest host Tommy Sinbazo from the Laugh Finder Podcast fills in for Wendi tonight to help Paco and Balls welcome guest Connor Whelton, owner of Baltimore’s ReLeaf Shop cannabis dispensary! After discussion of Tommy’s happy hour with pirates, the gang debates the divisive finale of a popular HBO series, and Balls gives an update on a new email from new potential intern, Douglas Peterson. Then Connor describes how he went from testing video games to being a full fledged purveyor of medical marijuana. Connor explains how Tommy can get a medical marijuana card, and gives us the scoop on available products.   Tags: Connor Whelton, Tommy Sinbazo, ReLeaf Shop, Douglas Peterson, Cannabis, Rascall Flatts, Donkey Sauce, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Leonardo, John Popper, Newsweek, The Neverending Story, Game of Thrones, Avengers: Endgame, Douglas Peterson, EA Nintendo, Planet Fitness, INSYS Therapeutics, Joe Robinson, CBD Oil, Mary Jane Watson, Mary Louise Parker, Kim Basinger, Kathy Bates, Die Laughing Productions, Murder Mystery, Tom Petty

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is inviting state Medicaid directors to partner with them to test new approaches to better serve those who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid.More than $300 billion is spent annually by CMS and states to care for the dual-eligibles, and many of the 12 million of those beneficiaries have multiple chronic conditions, and often have socioeconomic risk factors that can lead to poor outcomes. Could the CMS initiative suggest cost-cutting, administrative burden reductions, or true innovation? RACmonitor national correspondent J. Paul Spencer, a senior health consultant for DoctorsManagement, reports our lead story during this edition of the long-running Monitor Mondays live broadcast.Other segments to appear on the broadcast include:Court Report: Famed whistleblower attorney Mary Inman reports on the guilty verdict handed down Thursday by a federal grand jury in Boston that found Insys Therapeutics founder John Kapoor and four other executives guilty of criminal racketeering in bribing physicians to prescribe powerful opioids to patients who didn’t need them. Inman is a partner in the London office of Constantine Cannon.2020 IPPS Proposed Rule: Social determinants of health (SdoH) are back in the news, since CMS is proposing to make homelessness a CC (complication and comorbidity) for the purposes of Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) coding. Does the CMS action signal that SDoH are a growing concern in the nation’s healthcare landscape? Continuing our reporting on this hot topic is nationally recognized SDoH authority and author Ellen Fink-Samnick.Hot Topics: Monitor Mondays senior correspondent Nancy Beckley, president and CEO of Nancy Beckley and Associates, will report on all the latest hot topics and will also conduct the Monitor Mondays Listener Survey. Risky Business: Healthcare attorney David Glaser returns to Monitor Mondays with his popular segment, in which he reports on problematic issues facing providers.Monday Rounds: Ronald Hirsch, MD, vice president of R1 RCM, makes his Monday Rounds with another installment of his popular segment.

Is pharma about to have its Big Tobacco moment? Are we overestimating human genetics? And can sales reps rap? We discuss all that and more on the latest episode of “The Readout LOUD,” STAT's biotech podcast. First, Boston Globe reporter Jonathan Saltzman joins us to discuss the case against Insys Therapeutics, the maker of a powerful painkiller now accused of running a nationwide racketeering scheme. Then Dr. Laura Esserman of the University of California, San Francisco, comes on to break down the debate over genetic testing for cancer risk. And then we give you the need-to-know on an upcoming Senate hearing that will see seven pharma executives get grilled on the rising cost of medicines in the U.S.

We frame today’s podcast with Palm Beach Post reporters, John Pacenti and Pat Beall with a clip from the Insys Therapeutics rap video on the virtues of persuading doctors to prescribe higher doses of the company’s liquid opioid, Subsys. This week jurors in the Insys racketeering case in Boston heard the following lyrics from the company’s self-produced video; “I love titration. Yeah, it’s not a problem. I got new patients and I got a lot of ‘em”. That may be the most damning evidence against former executives of the company yet. In this second part of our series, we continue our conversation on the deceptive sales practices pioneered by Purdue Pharma more than 20 years ago, and perpetuated by others in the industry. In 2007, Purdue Pharma executives pled guilty to misbranding and deceptive marketing but the charges were reduced from felonies to misdemeanors and they were sentenced to just 300 hours of community service, thanks in part to Rudy Giuliani. In January, the trial began for former executives of Insys Therapeutics for essentially the same deceptive sales practices Purdue Pharma pled guilty to 12 years earlier. Palm Beach Post reporter, John Pacenti describes a corrupt operation willing to do almost anything to induce physicians to overprescribe their product, Subsys Fentanyl spray. We close today’s podcast with more of the self-produced Insys rap video on the virtues of persuading doctors to prescribe higher doses of Subsys. Go to Cover2.org to view the entire video featuring the company’s former director of sales, Alec Burlakoff, in a giant prescription bottle.

Back in January, the pharmaceutical trial of Insys Therapeutics and company founder, John Kapoor faced charges of racketeering. Allegedly, he and six former sales directors operated a scheme which paid bribes to physicians to prescribe the fentanyl spray SUBSYS, a high-powered opioid pain medication. Between 2012-2016, approximately 908 people overdosed and died due as a result of SUBSYS. Unfortunately, this tale is all too familiar for some. Back in 2007, Perdue Pharma pled guilty to these same sales practices and yet, little has been done to prevent future cases. Many companies, such as Insys Therapeutics are using this same questionable marketing today. Greg recently met with John Pacenti and Pat Beall to discuss more on this story and how years later, many pharmaceutical companies are still using these age-old tactics to push dangerous prescriptions. Hear more on today’s podcast.

The author of Dreamland, Sam Quinones, stated in a blog post “The Purdue Pharma company instructional materials pushed salespeople to ‘expand the physician’s definition of the appropriate patient’ to which opioids might be prescribed, and to develop a ‘specific plan for systematically moving physicians to the next level of prescribing.’” Over the past twenty years, other companies have adopted the same deceptive, sales tactics from Purdue Pharma, including INSYS Therapeutics. Today Greg is joined by Evan Hughes, author and writer for GQ, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe and The New York Times. Hughes recently composed an article for The New York Times entitled The Pain Hustlers. This article profiled the case of INSYS Therapeutics and how they paid millions to physicians through their “Speaker Program” to recommend and prescribe their bestselling, highly addictive, fentanyl product to treat terminal cancer pain: Subsys. Hear this story and how others in the industry have adopted these deceptive sales and marketing practices, despite Purdue Pharma’s prosecution for employing essentially, the same practices.

After some craziness in early 2000's, now looking to breakout! $insy $study

In this week’s episode, we have some exciting things to announce! First, Morgan talks about the success of the Budtenders and Terpenes event. She also mentions the upcoming High Holiday Cannabis Gift Show, hosted by the Cannabis Women’s Alliance, which will be loaded with amazing opportunities to find unique gifts for loved ones. Next, we talk about the upcoming MJ Biz Conference, and how our good friend Leah D’Ambrosio of Baked Smart will be our representative at the event. In the news: Florida couple receives 65 pounds of cannabis in Amazon shipment Los Angeles is focusing on helping marginalized communities benefit from legalization Eastern Washington cannabis farmers are being shut down and are devastated Recent study shows cannabis users are having more sex Seed to sale software delay burdens Washington’s cannabis industry     Blunt Talk:  We talk about recent headlines surrounding Insys Therapeutics, and the potential damage this drug company has done to the cannabis industry. In addition to providing the biggest donation to anti-legalization efforts, this company is working on a synthetic version of THC.   Interviews: Our first guest is Eliza Maroney, co-founder of Lucky Box Club and cannabis activist. Eliza talks about the inspiration behind the subscription boxes, and explains the process her team endures before choosing products for inclusion. Next, we have Katie Pringle, co-founder of Cannabis Communications, Marigold PR, and Canndora. Katie explains the concept behind Canndora, and talks about how influencers can become Ambassadors for the lifestyle community.      Until next time, if you have any questions about being interviewed or about sponsorship opportunities, you can reach us at yourhighnesspodcastATgmail.com. Thanks for spending your time with us! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/your-highness-podcast/support

Today in FirstWord:

U.S. Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill is calling out Insys Therapeutics over the overdose epidemic in an effort to tackle the country's deadly opioid crisis.

Reuters reports that U.S. Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill is seeking details from the nation's top opioid drugmakers on their sales and marketing practices, as lawmakers step up efforts to tackle the country's deadly opioid crisis.